Elen will go to Father Death, since she finds him less intimidating, mostly because of his size, and ask if he knows who can do construction work in the Camp.You find Father Death in his sanctuary, pouring over some books and drinking something steaming out of a large mug. He looks up and smiles at you. You notice that he is not trying to show you his rather sharp teeth.
"Ah, good day to you, madame witch. How can I help you on this fine, somewhat blessed day. Do you need any help committing to a suicide or anything like that?"
"I was thinking the second Wealday of next week for that one." She winks. "Actually, Father, I was thinking that as this small community's spiritual leader, you must know everyone. Who would you recommend for construction work? Since we've come into possession of the Benderhouse, essentially by right of conquest, we need to rebuild it into a base of operations for our expedition."
"I will have to hold you to that, Elen," the good padre says, with a grin. Father Death calls out,
After he offers you a seat, and the acolyte brings you a steaming mug of rich kaffe, Death looks you over for a moment, slowly rubbing his chin. "You know, it would be easier to arrange for your demise than it would be to come up with reliable people to help you with your endeavours."
"We have a few trinkets we could offer but beings like her are usually more interested in favors and debts than actual wealth. I suggest offering your/our aid for now and see if she needs help with anything."
"If our relationship with the Ursurer continues to worsen, and he is a lich as Azaruant believes, her help could mean a great deal."
Macavity shrugs in reply, "It's thin but something. I'll give it go." He starts to leave for Grimm's place, "Come get me if I'm not back by nightfall."
You walk towards Mama Grim's hovel, what used to be (from appearances) to be some sort of mausoleum. You walk down more of a decline than a set of steps and see the two goblin bears lying before you. They are awake and alert and appear to be sniffing you.
Macavity clears his throat and asks, "Mama Grimm, are you there?"
Macavity clears his throat and asks, "Mama Grimm, are you there?"
The bear on the left lets out a huge yawn, mouth strectched wide enough to bite your body in half, easily. The other bear looks non-plussed, as if you were the morning meal. You do however, hear a groan from the back of the darkened hovel.
"Oh heavens, why can't anyone let Mama Grim sleep?"
You see her hobble out from the darkness, turn to a cauldron and, with a flick of her wrist, light the wood underneath. Within seconds, the place is filled with dim light. You see that this was in fact a mausoleum, crevices carved out along the rounded walls, four deep leading up the walls. Most are still filled with the bones of the dead. She looks over to you and you see an attempt at a smile. It is not a pretty sight.
"Oh, it's you. The one who wishes to be hidden. For you and your friends, I'll get out of bed for. What can I do for you?"
"I do apologize for the intrusion. I can return at a more convenient time for you." Macavity begins.
Assuming she doesn't dismiss him, he continues, "My company would like to inquire if there are any services or favors that you need. Perhaps we can help? We are looking to sink roots here into the Camp and would like to become friendly neighbors."
"I do apologize for the intrusion. I can return at a more convenient time for you." Macavity begins.
Assuming she doesn't dismiss him, he continues, "My company would like to inquire if there are any services or favors that you need. Perhaps we can help? We are looking to sink roots here into the Camp and would like to become friendly neighbors."
"Oh, it's no problem, hidden one." She cocks her head to one side, looking at you in that (tasty meat) appraising manner you saw yesterday. "I can always use some alchemical ingredients for my potions of course. It is rather hard for someone like me to just walk into Gundrun and ask. There are, of course, my sisters to assassinate."
"Well, we've already take the job for your sisters " Macavity replies.
"I would be happy to take your shopping list. You can either spot me some currency or I can return with prices as you prefer."
She grabs a bag of loose coins and tosses them in your direction. She then starts writing a list. "Bear in mind, a few of these ingredients, such as the flesh of a ghoul, and swamp mud, you will likely have to go into the Desolation to find. The coins are for the items that you can buy in Gundrun." She finishes her list and hands it over to you. "I hope that you can read this...," she says expectantly, "it's the only language that I know how to write in."
"I will have to hold you to that, Elen," the good padre says, with a grin. Father Death calls out,
After he offers you a seat, and the acolyte brings you a steaming mug of rich kaffe, Death looks you over for a moment, slowly rubbing his chin. "You know, it would be easier to arrange for your demise than it would be to come up with reliable people to help you with your endeavours."
The goblin continues to rub his chin comptemplatively. He then leans forward in his chair, and says "Well, you might find a few people around here, that aren't either working for the mercenaries or the market that might pitch in. The mercs themselves might do it for a few days, mostly out of sheer boredom, but will likely disappear if something better comes along. Other than that, you might have to bring a few people up here from Gundrun, and I don't have to tell you how likely that is."
"My company includes some learned folks, so I'm sure the language won't be a problem." Macavity replies. "Besides, I'll come ask you if we need a clarification. Well, I won't bother you anymore. If there's anything you need, either come to old Bender inn or send one of your friendly bears with a note." Macavity will stay as along as he feels welcome.
She offers you some tea (that smells like what a sewer wishes it could smell like) and small talk, but after a bit, she feigns that she is quite busy. You take your cue to leave.
Macavity thanks Mama Grim for her hospitality and returns to the inn. He'll make some proper tea to cleanse his system and wait for Elen to arrive.
Macavity thanks Mama Grim for her hospitality and returns to the inn. He'll make some proper tea to cleanse his system and wait for Elen to arrive.
[dice=Perception]1d20+16
You find several kinds of tea in the cabinets. Make a Craft (Alchemy) or Knowledge (Nature) check to identify them, or ask someone if they can identify it.
You might want have someone else look at the tea leaves then, unless of course you're really thirsty...
Macavity will just grab something to drink that he has seen others drink to clear the bad taste in his mouth and get comfortable in the dining room to wait for Elen or Ruul.
Fair enough. Make a Perception check to pick a good one, and relax. I have no idea when the others are coming back.
You sit down on the comfortable couch, with a cup of tea in your hand, when you notice that the platform that you and Ruul has begun to blink. Slowly at first, and then more rapidly, the foot button at the center blinking green. A low humming noise starts to fill the room. Presently, a wooden box appears on the platform, next to the foot button. The humming ceases and the blinking stops. The box is about a foot or so long, and is shallow. It opens from the front, with no obvious traps. It has a piece of paper attached to the lid.
What have we got here?" Macavity takes and opens the piece of paper intending to read it.
The goblin continues to rub his chin comptemplatively. He then leans forward in his chair, and says "Well, you might find a few people around here, that aren't either working for the mercenaries or the market that might pitch in. The mercs themselves might do it for a few days, mostly out of sheer boredom, but will likely disappear if something better comes along. Other than that, you might have to bring a few people up here from Gundrun, and I don't have to tell you how likely that is."
"I will have to hold you to that, Elen," the good padre says, with a grin. Father Death calls out,
After he offers you a seat, and the acolyte brings you a steaming mug of rich kaffe, Death looks you over for a moment, slowly rubbing his chin. "You know, it would be easier to arrange for your demise than it would be to come up with reliable people to help you with your endeavours."
"Ah, well. Thank you anyway. How did you come to this place, if I may ask? One rarely sees those of your race here."
You might want have someone else look at the tea leaves then, unless of course you're really thirsty...
"Ah, well. Thank you anyway. How did you come to this place, if I may ask? One rarely sees those of your race here."The goblin continues to rub his chin comptemplatively. He then leans forward in his chair, and says "Well, you might find a few people around here, that aren't either working for the mercenaries or the market that might pitch in. The mercs themselves might do it for a few days, mostly out of sheer boredom, but will likely disappear if something better comes along. Other than that, you might have to bring a few people up here from Gundrun, and I don't have to tell you how likely that is."
"I will have to hold you to that, Elen," the good padre says, with a grin. Father Death calls out,
After he offers you a seat, and the acolyte brings you a steaming mug of rich kaffe, Death looks you over for a moment, slowly rubbing his chin. "You know, it would be easier to arrange for your demise than it would be to come up with reliable people to help you with your endeavours."
Father Death leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of him. "Well, I am actually the third from my clan to stay in this place, my father before me and a great-uncle. We were called here by our deities. It's as simple as that. Why goblins?" He shrugs his shoulders, "'Why not' is as good an answer as any. No one would expect our kind to do anything like this, but we goblins are a bit more complicated than you adventurer types like to believe." He laughs at this point, knowing how true that last statement is.
You might want have someone else look at the tea leaves then, unless of course you're really thirsty...
[dice=Knowledge(Nature)]1d20+14
[dice=Craft(alchemy)]1d20+12
[dice=Profession(Herbalist)]1d20+3
What have we got here?" Macavity takes and opens the piece of paper intending to read it.
Interesting. I'll have something to talk to Simon tonight. He thinks folding the note into a pocket.
Macavity takes a couple minutes to verify if the box is not trapped out of habit rather than suspicion. Then, he opens it. If locked, he takes a couple minutes to unlock it enjoying the time as would an artist. After carefully examining the contents, he will examine the box for secret compartments.
Interesting. I'll have something to talk to Simon tonight. He thinks folding the note into a pocket.
Macavity takes a couple minutes to verify if the box is not trapped out of habit rather than suspicion. Then, he opens it. If locked, he takes a couple minutes to unlock it enjoying the time as would an artist. After carefully examining the contents, he will examine the box for secret compartments.
The box has no traps, but it is locked. You'd guess that Simon has the key.
You make it look too easy. You pop the lock (it's built into the box, so you can't have it), and open the box. Inside are 4 branches, they look like oak. That's it. The inside is covered in red crushed velvet. It's very nice as a matter of fact.
Any secret compartments?
Father Death leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of him. "Well, I am actually the third from my clan to stay in this place, my father before me and a great-uncle. We were called here by our deities. It's as simple as that. Why goblins?" He shrugs his shoulders, "'Why not' is as good an answer as any. No one would expect our kind to do anything like this, but we goblins are a bit more complicated than you adventurer types like to believe." He laughs at this point, knowing how true that last statement is.
"I'd deny it, but I've seen too many pathfinders who believe exactly as you say. I don't myself, but I've seen more of the world than many of even my colleagues."
While talking to Father Death, Elen also asks if he knows anything about the other purposes of their trip -- the sleeping knight and his men, the Dwarven thane, and if it is Malerix or something else that guards the gates of Tsar. She does not ask about the other goals, not wanting to reveal too much at this point.
Elen peers into the box and examines the sticks carefully.
Now that Elen is in the Bordinghouse
Macavity interrupts Elen attempting to get to the interesting box. "Business before gifts. Would please read this? Mama Grim's grocery list has been waiting for you." He hands her the list while holding the closed box.
Now that Elen is in the Bordinghouse
Macavity interrupts Elen attempting to get to the interesting box. "Business before gifts. Would please read this? Mama Grim's grocery list has been waiting for you." He hands her the list while holding the closed box.
Elen looks over the list.
"If you'll give me a moment, my friend, we'll have this translated in no time."
Elen is preparing to cast Comprehend Languages when Ruul enters. Recognizing that a Minotaur would surely know Giant, she offers the list to him instead. "Macavity, you called this -- what, a grocery list? Are these items that the hag wishes to purchase from us?"
"Yes, Ruul wanted me to make friends with Mama Grim. Besides assassinating her cousins, that's her grocery list. She gave me some coins to pay." Macavity throws the pouch on the table. He opens the box and slips the note out of his outfit from the Venture Captain to Elen, "Read this. It's a note to Simon. The branches are gifts for us."
Kallistiel walks into the room with a big yawn, her hair and clothes a bit disheveled. "Oh!", she exclaims upon seeing the group "You're back. I miss anything interesting?" she says smoothing her hair and clothes out and sitting at the table.
Macavity repeats and politely asks Elen to brew some tea.
Any secret compartments?
Why, yes, as a matter of fact, there is! You can tell that the box is old, as the wood has a dull, rough hew, and the edges, for the most part, have been worn smooth. You go to pluck the branches out of the box, when your fingernail catches on something. You find a small, brass hook, that seemed to have been tucked under the velvet. You pull on it, and a section of the velvet pulls back, a length about half the size of the box opens up. Inside, you find two rings, both covered in a fine layer of dust, as if forgotten. Most of the compartment, in fact, has dust in it, as if the latch had not been opened in years.
The ring on the left is a simple gold band, while the other is made of silver, and is capped with a dull red stone, likely a ruby.
Father Death leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of him. "Well, I am actually the third from my clan to stay in this place, my father before me and a great-uncle. We were called here by our deities. It's as simple as that. Why goblins?" He shrugs his shoulders, "'Why not' is as good an answer as any. No one would expect our kind to do anything like this, but we goblins are a bit more complicated than you adventurer types like to believe." He laughs at this point, knowing how true that last statement is."I'd deny it, but I've seen too many pathfinders who believe exactly as you say. I don't myself, but I've seen more of the world than many of even my colleagues."
While talking to Father Death, Elen also asks if he knows anything about the other purposes of their trip -- the sleeping knight and his men, the Dwarven thane, and if it is Malerix or something else that guards the gates of Tsar. She does not ask about the other goals, not wanting to reveal too much at this point.
Death looks at you in an appraising manner, before speaking. 'I recognize an attempt to pull information when I see it. I beleive that I have some of the information that you seek, but I would like to ask for a service or payment in return."
Elen peers into the box and examines the sticks carefully.
[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+14
The wands are identified as Cure Moderates (all four of them).
Now that Elen is in the Bordinghouse
Macavity interrupts Elen attempting to get to the interesting box. "Business before gifts. Would please read this? Mama Grim's grocery list has been waiting for you." He hands her the list while holding the closed box.
Elen looks over the list.
"If you'll give me a moment, my friend, we'll have this translated in no time."
Elen is preparing to cast Comprehend Languages when Ruul enters. Recognizing that a Minotaur would surely know Giant, she offers the list to him instead. "Macavity, you called this -- what, a grocery list? Are these items that the hag wishes to purchase from us?"
"Gifts?"
Ruul examines the branches mentioned by the rogue.
"Elen, Ruul, what do make of these rings that I found in the box, too? With the dust, they seem forgotten about.